(Courtesy of Westchester Medical Center) A family in London, England faced a heart-wrenching situation when their unborn son was diagnosed with a rare congenital condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome. This threatened the proper development of the baby’s heart and his lungs, putting his life at risk. The prognosis meant the child faced prolonged—perhaps even lifelong—respiratory support.

Doctors in London wouldn’t operate on the infant, Adam, because of the complexity of the situation. In their view, regardless of surgical outcomes, Adam would continue to face too many complex problems.

Refusing to give up, Adam’s family—who are engaged members of the Jewish community—reached out to Refuah Helpline, a referral service that connects families with advanced care centers. Adam’s parents were directed to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester County, New York, known for its expertise in handling complex pediatric conditions. The dedicated doctors, surgeons and nurses at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital readily accepted the case.

Adam and his parents flew across the ocean to New York. Adam’s surgical procedure was performed by Sameh Said, MD, chief of the section of pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgery, who specializes in repairing congenital heart defects in children, including the most complex abnormalities. Dr. Said successfully completed the surgery and improved the boy’s heart function.

With his heart defect corrected, there’s a chance that the now 4-month-old boy’s lungs will gradually improve, reducing his reliance on respiratory support. Adam’s family now has hope for his future, buoyed by their faith, their community and the dedicated medical team who helped them.